RRRR - Rebbe Reichman Ruach Revival

Rebbe elavating the sparks on Laurel Hill Terrace (photo credits: Reb Menachem Butler, official historian of the revolution)

2011-08-25T00:58:00.003-04:00

Our humble attempt to combat the forces of half shabbos http://www.jewishtimes.com/index.php/jewishtimes/news/jt/local_news/a_college_park_shabbat/168

2011-06-29T23:12:00.000-04:00

Making half shabbos into full shabbos

2011-06-29T21:21:00.009-04:00

When reading the half Shabbos article I was reminded of an episode that happened when I was at YU. There were a bunch of MYP guys who were caught cheating on finals and it came to the attention of the Roshei Yeshivah that there was a lot of cheating going on by MYP guys. A kol korei was signed by most of the roshei yeshivah declaring that if you see somebody cheating you are obligated to report the offender. I remember coming into shiur and Rebbe Reichman went on to tell us that he had refused to sign the letter. He explained his rationale for resisting the peer pressure. He said we need to get to the root of the problem. By responding in this fashion we are cutting off one branch and another will grow in its place, rather then uprooting the entire tree. He felt that we are prohibiting cheating but permitting slander, while not addressing the real problem which is that there is no yiras shomayim. His answer was to double the dosage of Rabbi Cohn's burning mussar in the freezing snow. When reading the half shabbos article I felt the same way. Rather then figure out how to blot out texting on shabbos by teens, we have to figure out how can we give them a full shabbos experience? when high school and college students are keeping half shabbos it's because they have never been presented with a full shabbos. Presenting full shabbos is the only way to get rid of half shabbos! But who to present it? How can we as parents , educators, rabbis, mentors give an experience that we ourselves don't possess? Kids pick up on everything and can smell it a mile a way! We occupy a barren half shabbos wasteland where as rav shlomo says if the queen of England were to walk into a shul and hear kabbalat shabbos she would ask "Is this an advertisement for coca cola"? When the sanctuary is devoid of divine inspiration what should a young soul do to satisfy the double dose of kedusha that they need to fill the black hole? When they are not taught to converse with Hashem in their own words they will seek that intimate connection with another. The conversation around the shabbos table focuses around pop culture, mortgages, the latest frum white collar criminal and the style of rabbi's wife's sheital, how then can our teens who's souls are hungry for spiritual satiation be held accountable for conducting their own versions of the shabbos table conversation on their mobile devices? After all this is what shabbos is all about?! It is a miracle that many still associate with the "orthodox community" when They are taught that the way to fill their void is through kiddush club, kugel and a snooze during the rabbi's amazingly boring speech. To see these products who have been vaccinated in the day schools inspires nothing short of despair. Perhaps the most perplexing and inspiring part of it all is seeing them come back for more. Like a battered puppy these spiritually deprived youngsters believe that the only place that they can hope to find the answers, get the love that they need, and satiate their divine spark is through a Torah community, and lifestyle. communally and as individuals we need to contemplate how we can begin to offer our youth the full shabbos experience that they so desperately crave.

2010-12-07T16:59:00.001-05:00

Please say tehillim for Rebbe's Daughter

Batya Shira bat Chasida

who is currently in the hospital after complications during delivery.

2010-11-17T20:18:00.004-05:00

I was listning to some talk radio regarding these new body scanners that the TSA is using at airports and it got me thinking. What if they could create an authenticity scanner. They could be set up outside of yeshivas and shuls and everybody would have to pass through them before and after they went to davening or to learn? And imagine if it could be programmed in such a way as to convey the area in your life you were not being quite authentic about. It would give contructive feedback like "you are not as pious as you are putting on, Warning! you are an egomaniac masquarading as an anav. May actually be a good resource for those rabbis trying to combat kiddush clubs.

The Vaccine

2010-11-08T19:47:00.004-05:00

Last year I was talking with a Jew from the Holy Land. He was lamenting to me how a generation of kids have all been vaccinated in the day school system. The conversation was short and I began to think. What were we all vaccinated against? How was the vaccine administered to us? And what if I was immune to the vaccine? Perhaps that's what always made me different than the rest of the kids....

Comrades

2010-09-20T00:34:00.003-04:00

Long before the revolution was formed
our rebbe had a plan he set into motion
he plucked the most displaced souls off benches and out of study halls
gave them ruach and revived their slumbering spirits

He uncovered the grandeur that existed in each one
made them aware of their strengths and tasked them with creating a small ray of light in a sea of darkness
he surely knew the bond that would be formed
and understood that the hidden thief would have to cause their dispersion
lest they bring life to wisdom

each it appeared was driven out to the great abyss
one on a mound of maneur, another into the world of untruths
some were sent to gather sparks from the valentines day massacre and a comrade was even sent to become a corn husker

Yet it is clear to the one who can see with great depth
that our rebbe was behind this great dispersion
he executed it
without much exertion

He meant to have esteemed rabbis,westerners, and commoners as students
and have them execute his will without much direction
yet one thing he may not have anticipated is the haze of the galus
rebbe did you anticipate it?
how could such a pure soul anticipate the blur?

But alas I digress in my heresy
and am sure that my rebbe is thinking of me?
Oh certain I am this was part of the plan
But who can shed light on the great reunion planned?(purim 5771?)

Conveying the Message

2010-09-07T00:28:00.004-04:00

Sometimes I think the selichot were introduced in order to give us one last chance to connect to hashem through words. The rabbis kind of say here are a lot of words the wordiest ones there are. We say them with fervor and diligence. I have heard in the name of rav yoel, that on rosh hashana we say "hashem I can't express how I feel about you in words. I've been trying all year and it just isn't working. But listen to this sound of the shofar and you'll know exactly how I feel. You see this carrot, fish head, beets, celery and raisin, this is what I have been trying to say to you all along.

SIghtings Past and Future

2010-09-05T23:02:00.008-04:00

Shanah Tovah to all. As we are preparing for Rosh Hashanah here in Omaha, the Omaha Jewish Press decided to expose some RRRR to the community. I hope the RRRR chevra will followup on these articles by coming to visit in person (either incognito or as an emissary).

Kesiva ve-Chasima Tovah

Getting Serious...

2010-08-31T08:19:00.003-04:00

Last night, one of the holy chevra in the shul came over to me and said: "Rabbi, I can tell that with the high holy days coming, you're finally getting serious. You're much better when you're serious!"

I told him that of course I'm getting serious: Yom Kippur is Yom K'Purim, and if there is ever a time to get serious, it's now...

Insane in the membrane

2010-08-24T22:01:00.004-04:00

You know the Rebbe Nachman story where there is a propet who tells everyone that if they eat the wheat they will go insane. Nobody believes him except one family. They realize that they can't survive without eating a little bit of wheat, and besides if they refrain from eating wheat then everybody will think that they are insane. So they eat but make a marking on their forheads so they will be insane but at least it will be a conscious insanity. Well What happens if everybody eats it and nobody makes a sign, Who would be around to tell us the story?

2010-08-17T23:21:00.003-04:00

You never quite know how you got there until you're in it. One minute you were cruising along enjoying the breeze and then all of a sudden you're waist deep in it. You put the pedal to the floor thinking you can muscle your way out of it but that just gets you stuck even deeper. Guilt sets in , how could this happen to me? Then despair I will never get out of this gunk. The mind races what did I do to to deserve this fate? The occasional passerby offers to throw you a line but it will do little good as they can't appreciate the hole you are in. An old parable from AA comes to mind as your i phone battery is drained and the hours stretch on without a response from triple a. There was once a boy who was stuck in a hole. A priest walked by and he yelled help me father I am stuck in a hole! The father threw him a cross but he was still stuck in the hole. A rabbi then walked by and He yelled for help from him, the rabbi tossed him a bible but little good that did. Then a recovering addict heard his yell for help and jumped into the hole with him. The boy looked at him and asked what good will that do now we are both stuck? The recovering addict responded but I have been in the hole and I know how to get out. But what does one do if they have lost the strength to scream out for help? What if our calls for help go unanswered?

2010-08-05T14:00:00.002-04:00

Snuffy and Koach Hadimyon

2010-07-09T02:25:00.005-04:00

Perhaps the most complex character I've come across is snuffy. As Paul Simon says a man he hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest (Or in Bigbird's case see). While we all know that snuffy is not real to big bird he is as real as it gets. Big Bird understands that seeing is not believing and that the imagination is what inspires us to create. It is then fitting that Snuffy is a mammoth of a character and it is precisely his largess that leads many of the sesame faithful baffled. In our lives there are times when we just can't relate or understand what is real and what is just an imaginary friend. The struggle that big bird faces is of tantamount importance to the human condition. He can capitulate to the dictum's of society and denounce his beloved snuffy as a childhood mirage, or dig deep inside his bird being, flying in the face of his com padres and internalize the reality that he knows to be truth.
A special shout out to my comrade in arms reb reuven for the teaching

God Follows Me Everywhere

2010-07-08T10:38:00.000-04:00

God follows me everywhere-

spins a net of glances around me

shines upon my sightless back like a sun.

God follows me like a forest everywhere.

My lips, always amazed, are truly numb, dumb,

like a child who blunders upon an ancient holy place.

God follows me like a shiver everywhere.

My desire is for rest; the demand within me is: Rise up,

See how prophetic visions are scattered in the streets.

I go with my reveries as with a secret

in a long corridor thought the world-

and sometimes I glimpse high above me, the faceless face of God.

…

God follows me in tramways, in cafes.

Oh, it is only with the back of the pupils of one’s eyes that

one can see

how secrets ripen, how visions come to be.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Oscar the snag

2010-07-07T22:05:00.004-04:00

Last summer I had the grand idea to buy a season pass to sesame place. It lasts through this summer as well and little did I realize the great chinuch oppurtunity I would have when making my frequent visits this summer. Although I must admit I am more perplexed by each day I frequent the "street" I have been able to impart many a life lesson to the boy with each trip we make. I will start with my most recent trip.

I always knew that Oscar the Grouch was a snag hiding out in his garbage can "im yisaser ish bamistarim vani lo erenu neum hashem" the prsyzcha says g-d says to the person who resideds in his can thinking he is accomplishing his life mission by pouring over a talmud that does not enlighten his soul. G-d says i will not look at him. Oscar lives in a world of darkness. He has become so institutionalized in his can and any simchas hachaim has been stripped from him as he has had the can and its lid molded to his head. He sings how he loves trash. He percieves his learning as something so grand and idealizes his empty puruit while we on the outside looking in pity his hypocrisy. His professes how he is sad when he is happy and gets joy from being sad. Powerful stuff!.

Need

2010-06-06T20:35:00.000-04:00

My powerful shudders speak to me about You.

Feelings within me wildly arouse prayer…

And I do not know, I do not understand how to call you.

The danger of unconscious longing

Frightens me. Cramped feelings in a narrow space

I choke from not-knowing. Save me – a word!

Rabbi Dr. Abraham Joshua Heschel, "Need", 1930

Gimme GImme Rebbe Treatment

2010-05-17T20:28:00.002-04:00

SHalom Alichem

Just got off the phone with ADMOR. Among other things, Rebbe mentioned that a new niggun was composed. You can check it on 613.org or naaleh.com. It's special for the upcoming challah-day.

I miss Rebbe so much. Maybe I'll charter a greyhound from Chicago to bring the mishpacha.

As always, there is a room for you in Chi-Town.

Yogurt

Rebbe on Proper Health and Nutrition

2010-05-09T18:04:00.003-04:00

Reb Jeremy had a Motzai Shabbos sit down with Rebbe for a rare glimpse into Rebbe's health and fitness regimen, and suggestions for proper health and nutrition. For the video, click the link below. Thanks Rebbe!

Video of Rebbe Reichman discussing proper health and nutrition

A thought...

2010-03-14T13:58:00.003-04:00

While preparing a shiur on Davar Charif (Yoreh Deah 96) (Spicy food, combined with the pressure of a knife which renews a dormant taste in the knife, ie: cutting an onion with a meat knife, makes the onion like it was just cooked with meat) I had the following thought...

The Halacha states that it is the pressure of the knife which brings out the taste, and sharpness which makes the food absorb.
Many times we have thoughts and feelings of greatness which lie dormant within our hearts and minds. We need something to renew these thoughts. We need a "knife," whose movement back and forth, which reminds us, Razto Vashov, whether running or returning, whether we feel like life in moving forward, or we're moving backwards, Hashem loves us and wants us to be Jews in whatever situation we find ourselves in. We need a Davar Charif to open our hearts, sharp thought, or vort to renew our thoughts, feelings and yearnings for Kedusha.

Mazal tov!!!

2010-03-09T19:29:00.002-05:00

Mazal tov to RRRR members Akiva Ben Canaan and MachineGunFodder for obtaining smicha from a well known orthodox rabbinical seminary! Go forth, ye shepherds, spread the light of the RRRR to our growing flock, and enjoy your newfound parsonage rights!

2010-03-04T22:36:00.001-05:00

Field Report: Rebbe Reichman Purim Seuda

2010-03-01T11:22:00.004-05:00

The post-seuda-seuda (PSS) began in total, pitch-black darkness.

We warmed things up with the decanting of several bottles of yayin and the ceremonial roasting of a portion of meat. BergMD used his torch to light the candles scattered throughout the apartment. Yitz Shady tuned up our instruments, and we began playing and singing a new Yitz Shady joint set to drop soon on Itunes with the working title "Baruch Ata Hashem" (feat. Danimal). We were soon joined by Cave dweller Basil, Maharuthie, and Professor Lichtenstein, and got things moving with a rousing chorus of Canaan Land which the Frymans told us they could hear from the street. We were clearly off to a good start. At some point during this portion of the seuda, teleconferences were held with Rabbi Machine Gun Fodder at the UMaryland Hillel, and Rabbi Akiva Ben Canaan and the choir of the school-children of the Young Israel of Staten Island (aka Staten "Lion"). On a stop-over on his way from a conference in Vienna to a conference in Finland, highly regarded Professor Benny Von Bennyboy Refa (nee Sgan) Kohanim (Ph.D in Wii Tennis from the University of Heidelberg, currently doing post-graduate work in "creative uses of the Front Guy") was still riding the high from the celebration of his bar mitzvah earlier in the day, at which he lit thirteen candles to celebrate the occasion.

And then a startling, almost shocking thing happened.

In response to last-minute, random text messages and voicemails (in addition to the shining of the Rebbe symbol into the clear night sky from the roof of the Bennett building), on his way from Medzibuzh to Wolffson to Breslov, Rebbe Reichman's purim caravan was able to make a stop at our seuda. Some local residents were recruited to keep the horses well fed with oats, bananas and oranges, and to keep the revolutionary chariot oiled and ready to fight the Amalekites and snags (and any overlap between the two categories), while Rebbe graced us with his presence. After sweeping the apartment for bugs, and being given the "all clear" by Rebbe's advance revolutionary guard detail, we ushered Rebbe into the seuda to a rousing 20 minute (ie- abbreviated) version of the RRRR Victory Niggun, in all three of its glorious parts (the third part having been revealed to Rebbe years after the first two parts). Rebbe promptly took the helm, led us in song, shared some very special purim related teachings, and offered his bracha that we should all meet very soon at the eastern gate of the holy third temple for a meat (korban) breakfast at 10 am, in 30 years from now. All felt touched by his presence. Rebbe's special guest, Rabbi G______ (if you remember his name, please post it in comments), told of his experiences with Reb Shlomo on the Moshav, and drew comparisons between the concepts of Shushan and Shoshan. As shabbos was about to begin, we prayed Kabbalat Shabbat, and also, at Rebbe's request, shook the (already shaky) Bennett building with a 30-40 minute version of Reb Shlomo's harachaman, and the niggun nevo, with YD, Yitz Shady, Chef Lasher and Danimal on guitar, and Bennyboy on Ukelele. As Bennyboy was celebrating his bar mitzvah, lechaim's were made in his honor, and a ceremonial bar mitzvah pen was gifted to him. Dr. Mark the Spark offered brilliant and meandering kabbalistic truths which bypassed the brain and went straight into the heart via the carotid artery. Herr Professor Butler proceeded to (literally) telephone every Michael Shapiro in the phone book in an ambitious and bold effort to cut through the red tape and finally track down the increasingly elusive, little known god of 1970's- 1980's jewish folk music, Michael Shapiro. Herr Prof. Butler's opening line on the telephone: (uttered with a mixture of childlike excitement and fearful trembling) "is this the home of the spiritual master and guru named Michael Shapiro? May we speak with him? May we wish him a good purim?", may not have been the best way to accomplish this goal.

We knew we had attained new levels when Willie, our holy superintendent, breached our first line of defenses (a row of sandbags placed ten meters from the door), and even got past our sentry (BergMD, who, appropriately, due to the high concentration of "high value" revolutionary targets, kept the door chained and bolted at all times). Holy Super Willie told us the ceiling of the apartment under us was caving in, and we must stop our jumping. With renewed zeal and vigor we (politely) sent Willie on his way and continued our seuda as before. Sporadic shouts of "good purim" and "Rebbe Reichman" could be heard throughout the walled city of Washington Heights, from the 34th Precinct (admittedly, a building which several members of the RRRR have had occassion to visit on Purim in years past) all the way to the fine cheese section of Frank's Marketplace. From Cabrini to Amsterdam, from Maitland to Lark Street, from Liget's piet a terre on the French Riviera to Liget's underground "coffee import" plant in the jungles of Nicaragua, shouts of "good purim" could be heard by the populace.

We give thanks to Hashem, and to Rebbe Reichman, and to Rabbi G_______, and to a very holy cast of characters, all friends and associates of the revolution, and several (perhaps unwitting) recruits to the revolution's growing sisterhood. A very partial list of those who made our seuda special: Godfather Dash, Maharuthie, Basil the cave dweller, Yitz Shady, Mark the Spark and Treelana Kurzman, BergMD, Dassi the Rocket Scientist, Type Bee Rivkie, Chad, Elie, Ariela, Guru YB, and many many others we may not have had the mental clarity to make note of.

May the energy of this year's purim take us through to next year's purim in health, happiness, joy, and success in all of our revolutionary endeavours. And may we slay many Amalekites along the way.

2010-02-11T23:02:00.001-05:00

Baltimore Jewish Times- "A College Park Shabbat"

A major feature of the Orthodox Union’s Heshe and Harriet Seif Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus program—which is found on 15 major campuses in the United States and Canada, including the University of Maryland in College Park—is Friday night Shabbos dinner, in which the young rabbi and his wife who run the program (the Torah Educators, as they are known), invite students to share their table and Shabbat joy with them. This happens week after week, throughout the academic year. At Maryland, Rabbi Eli and Naomi Kohl open their doors to their students. In the following report, Naomi explains how it is done – and what the benefits are, to the students and to the Kohl family.

To make a great Shabbos meal you need three cups of energy, a spoonful of spirit, and a teaspoon of love. Monday morning in the Hillel dining hall is when we begin our weekly preparations. Between a chavrusa (a one-on-one student session) and a casual shmooze with a student, I keep a watchful eye as I mentally prepare an invitation list. If I don’t strike quickly an upperclassmen may extend an invitation and it may be months before that particular student may grace our Shabbat table. The University of Maryland is home to more than 400 Orthodox students and we try to have them all over for a meal, at some point during their college experience.

Friday is when the games begin. I hustle twenty minutes to Silver Spring, drop my two-year-old son, Yisrael, off at school and then proceed to the kosher establishments in town, to procure my ingredients. After purchasing these goodies I hurry back to College Park to begin cooking. My husband watches our six-month-old baby girl, Shira, while I slice, dice and mash the ingredients, occasionally with the assistance of a helpful student. Many Fridays it seems like I won’t beat the clock, but I always end up finishing just before the buzzer sounds. I breathe a sigh a of relief when I light the Shabbos candles, as my husband goes off to shul for four hours for davening, learning and the famed Hillel social hour.

The Magic Number:

Eli returns home with 12-15 students, the magic number. This ensures that our group is small enough to fit around our table and that we can all participate in one conversation. There are always one or two more students than originally expected, due to my husband’s over-inviting disorder, which Hakodosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, Blessed Be He) matched nicely, with my over-cooking disorder. The avirah (atmosphere) is a very homey experience—that is what the students smell, taste and feel when they come over.

They are greeted from outside by our son, who is patiently waiting by the window for his “friends” to come over. Many students are looking for a home away from home and we feel privileged to help provide that during their college years. During these years students are making many crucial life decisions. They are asking themselves, “Who will I marry and how will that shape my future; what will my home look like; what will my Shabbat and religious experiences be when I am an adult?” Perhaps this is why we view the Shabbat experience with students as the most important interaction we will have with them.

By modeling a Jewish home that has a mezuzah, Shabbos candles and Jewish books, filling our Shabbos table with song, soup, and spirituality, we hope to inspire students to continue to strive towards a lifestyle infused with Torah values and meanings. We feel responsible to model a Jewish family for students, as we may be a reference point for future relationships they may have. To foster a sense of family we invite groups of students who are friendly with each other. If they are comfortable with each other, they will feel more at ease in our home. As friends they may already know each other well, yet we feel it is important to have our trademark parsha-themed ice breakers. They serve as a way of infusing the table with Torah, in a non- threatening way, and give the students an opportunity to say what’s on their minds.

Students are always afraid that when they go to their “rabbi’s house” they will be grilled on the parsha and their lives. Our approach is a way to break down those barriers and to connect the Torah to their lives. For example: on Parshat Miketz with Yosef’s dreams, we would ask, what’s a crazy dream you once had, or what are your dreams and aspirations; on Lech Lecha, their trials and tribulations.

While fish, soup and salad satiate some, there is not a hungry soul at the table when the meat, chicken and deli roll are done. The conversations vary as do the crowds—some want to talk about pop culture, social networks, high school stories or Israel adventures; others like to hear the rabbi’s philosophical views on a slew of geopolitical issues and old war stories from his childhood in Brooklyn; while others like to read our children their favorite stories on the couch. Many students offer their help to serve the food; what I most enjoy is the opportunity it provides to have one-on-one conversations with students I rarely have the time for during the week.

It’s Oneg Time!

As the meal seems to be winding down, we hear a knock at the door and are greeted with a burst of energy. Once a month, 60 or more additional students battle the elements to get a taste of our Friday night cholent and desserts as well as an unbeatable dose of spirituality which carries into the week. Students come from all across the country to be a part of the incredible community that exists at Maryland. Many are from Baltimore and Silver Spring but just as many come from New York, New Jersey, Florida, Chicago, California, Atlanta and more. Our onegs often begin as hip hop music is blaring from the fraternity house next door. As many as 100 Jewish souls may combat those tunes with niggunim of our own, and the fragrant scent of Oneg Shabbos suppresses the aromatic fragrances that are often found on a college campus.

For many students, we are able to provide this oasis that they crave and reawaken a slumbering spirit that may have become stagnant from the mounds of school work. Our onegs are sprinkled with inspiring stories and thoughts as many of our students are eager to share their thoughts with each other, and to encourage their peers to continue striving towards goals they may have set for themselves as they were leaving for their year in Israel. We try to pause these moments to remind ourselves why exactly we moved to the middle of a college campus, but as we embrace the last of our students close to 1:00 am and receive our final thank you, we are sure there is no place we would rather be than at the University of Maryland!

Morainu VeRabaynu HaRebbe Reb Itch'le Kadoozy

2009-12-14T14:46:00.002-05:00

It that time of the year again fellas...get on line at the permit office, order your exploding dreidels, and get into a sufganiyah eating contest...the annual watching of the Itche Kadoozy Chanukah Series.

We need to start boycotting Chabad to get them back...maybe even start a RRRR version? Episode 1 may need to involve a rubber chicken...

http://www.chabad.org/kids/article_cdo/aid/448135/jewish/Chanukah-Mini-Series-Part-I.htm

4th Anniversary of the Victory Niggun

2009-12-14T11:44:00.001-05:00

New Rebbe Theme Song?

2009-12-01T09:48:00.000-05:00

Chushim Ben Dan "The Bear Jew"

2009-11-16T23:34:00.002-05:00

They say that if you put a frog into a beaker of boiling hot water it will jump right out but if you place it in a Luke warm one and gradually raise the temperature it will boil to death. Ah the ability to adapt! We Jews have always had this koach to cope with the temperature as it begins to rise. Upon hearing esav's objection to them laying their father to rest in his ancestral burial plot, the tribes gradually got used to the idea of their father yackov's body laying out in the open sun to rot. Enter the bear Jew, chushim ben dan and he won't have it. He is deaf perhaps his battery died or he just didn't want to hear it, wasn't ready to get used to the idea of being a victim and he changed the course of history with one swing of the bat! Any tough Jew who has walked the streets of the world has him to thank. Chushim said yes as Jews we have this strength to be able to endure and adapt to any situation but were not gonna take it anymore! And when a Jew anywhere finds himself adapting to the culture around him, philosophizing away his birthright, or selling out, he must call on the bear Jew within him to awaken, cast off the shackles and slug out the demons inside who urge complacency. A Gutten Chodesh

Reb Shlomo Yahrzeit with Rebbe!

2009-10-30T10:44:00.002-04:00

MONDAY NIGHT

RUBIN SHUL

8PM till the Morning Comes...

BYOK (Bring your own Musical Kelim)

Naamah Chana Weiss!

2009-10-22T13:29:00.004-04:00

Mazal Tov to the Minister of Agriculture and his pioneering family on the birth of the newest Daughter of the Revolution!!!

May Naamah grow proud and strong, and learn to wield the Sword of the Revolution!

"If we can't get them out, we'll breed them out..."

Rebbe on Hoshana Raba

2009-10-14T12:23:00.001-04:00

2009-10-14T01:48:00.005-04:00

As a field commander placed deep behind enemy lines I have grown weary. How I long to return to HQ sip some warm porridge and allow my frost bitten toes to thaw. I have entrenched myself and placed fortifications around me placed land mines that have been the poor fortune of wandering elk and often feel as if I require immediate extraction. But to where can I return? The young bucks have filled the ranks and my ax has Dulled. I can no longer contend with the fresh legs and feeble minds of the revolution. And so I hunker down for the impending spiritual frost that is sure to engulf me. To whom can I turn for solice? The candle of darkness has shown brighter then ever before and I fear that my wounds will be gangrenous by winters end. But wait.... I hear my comrades voices from their foxholes! Can it be that another poor soul with whom I shared a niggun and a banana with has found themselves a similar destination? ...............
ed. note this post was not drug induced

Early RR Release Found in Japanese Used Record Shop

2009-10-09T11:16:00.003-04:00

A rare look at one of our early, early LP's. This album can only be found in obscure, dusty, Tokyo back-alleys, where apparently, the Ruach Revival Band was once an international sensation, even breaking into the Tokyo Top Ten with the accordian-heavy hit, Rebbe's Everywhere, off the "Rolls Along" album, pictured below.

Victory at EnRebbe

2009-10-01T09:42:00.005-04:00

Apparently Rebbe used a certain tune while leading Neilah in the Beis Midrash. Er...

2009-09-17T16:29:00.000-04:00

Near Michael an Arab was sleeping… He leaned forward to contemplate the sleeper: so comfortable, so peaceful, nodding. Michael’s thoughts spoke to him: you are happy, servant of Allah. You’re probably illiterate; you’ve never heard of nuclear fission or Heinrich von Kleist. The problem of the immortality of the soul leaves you indifferent; knowing whether Hegel was profoundly religious or profoundly atheistic dos not trouble your mind. You’re happy. Allah is great, and if what he accomplishes is not, that’s his affair and not yours. You just sleep. One day is like another, one dream is like another, men repeat the same stories always, the rivers flow to the sea: why torture yourself? Why covet what your life lacks? Why run off to distant places if Allah is great everywhere, in sleep as in happiness, in joy as in forgetfulness? Right, you are right, sleep. Peace be with you, faithful servant of Allah. Tomorrow you will welcome a new day no different from yesterday. You’ll marvel at the timeless bravura of the snake charmer, you’ll come back to smoke your hookah, you’ll stare into empty space, and night will find you here again: nothing will have changed. Happy those who close their eyes: for them nothing changes.

Elie Wiesel, The Town Beyond the Wall, 104

To all who were unable to come to the Revolution planning meeting.

2009-08-20T14:53:00.001-04:00

Gathering.

2009-08-14T00:50:00.002-04:00

Tuesday night. 8:30. My cave, er house.
Teaneck. Get there. 5 minute walk from Sherut.
It's not the same address. Email me.

2009-08-05T14:47:00.000-04:00

“In Shir HaShirim, we find: “My Beloved is knocking.” God knocks on one’s door: one must get up and open the door. And the person thinks to himself: Now, when I’m lying in a warm bed, I have to get up? I have taken off my coat; how can I put it back on? I have washed my feet; how can I get them dirty?

A person has a choice in this situation: sometimes he gets up, sometimes not. But the next verse relates: “My beloved put his hand on the latch” – God has reached out His hand; He is coming into view! My heart thrills for Him” and immediately, “I rose up.” The individual gets up by himself; he jumps out of bed without worrying whether he washed his feet or took off his coat. There are times when a person knows that He exists, and he will make his own calculations, with arguments one way or the other. But at the moment of firsthand experience, the revelation of this One, all his personal considerations evaporate. He jumps out of bed and runs to serve God, with no patience for any inner debates.

Rav Adin Steinsaltz, Learning from the Tanya, 69

Are there some questions you feared asking as a youth?

2009-08-04T20:16:00.006-04:00

Our recent trip to Sesame Place reminded me of some of the questions I was always afraid to ask the rabbeim of my youth and never found the proper setting to ask Rebbe. Some help from the chevrah please. "Ein habayshon Lamed" so if you have some questions of your own now is the time.

1) Can Elmo be Mitztaref to A minyan?

2) Is Oscar the grouch A misnagid?

2009-07-23T12:33:00.001-04:00

Today I will begin to put the dread of you and the fear of you upon the nations that are under the entire heaven, who will hear reports of you and shake and be in trepidation because of you.(Devarim 2:25)

May we be zoche, this week!

No Patience

2009-07-23T12:07:00.003-04:00

The most obvious difference between the two traditions [of the Jewish and American peoples] is that of national origins. The beginnings of Judaism are as old as history itself, whereas the sum total of American history reaches 190 odd years, a total which in Jewish history amountsto only a page and which to the Jewish consciousness is absurdly small. While it is true that America’s roots antedate 1776 and can be found in Greece and Rome, it is equally true that in conduct, thought and character, America is distinctive and unique. For despite the variegated roots of American civilization, a homogeneous national character has emerged which is peculiarly a product of the New World. And the beginnings of this national character are quite recent….

This contrasting length of the two histories accounts in part for their disparate time-view. A civilization whose past is measurable has a more restricted view of time than one whose traditions reach into pre-history. For Judaism, the future follows the way of the past, distant and infinite. In America, too, future is like past: brief, measurable and immediate. Thus we find America operating on a short, hurried time scale. It is more concerned with the here and now than the hereafter, both in the practical and the teleological sense. There is no patience for eternity. By contrast, the Jewish time scale is long and far reaching. The Jew has time. This has been celebrated in our folk lore, our humor, and even in the classic Tiddish aphorism, A Yid hat zeit. He is patient, as one who ahs come from the dawn of history and now waits for the Messiah must be patient. The objects of his authentic ambition are sacred rather than secular, and he does not think only in terms of the immediately attainable. Time is not a commodity which must be used. God himself is mekadesh Yisrael ve’ha-zemanim – He who sanctifies Israel and the seasons. Time is holy. Speed in understanding all things, rapidity of movement for its own sake, short courses in learning and scholarship – these are foreign to the Jewish tradition.

The Jew has time, and his Book is constantly expanded: Bible to Talmud to commentaries to super-commentaries ad infinitum. The American book is quickened, shortened: novels to pocket editions to abridgements to condensations. Characteristically, the Jew has carried his Book on his shoulders: Ol Torah , the yoke of the Torah. The American carries his book in his hip pocket.

Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, The American and the Jew: Equation or Encounter? (Tradition, Fall 1960)

The Spread

2009-07-22T00:52:00.003-04:00

A group of hikers on their way to rock climbing sing the rebbe's niggun! The revolution is spreading! May it continue until we scale all walls!!!

Not so easy to be a Working Jew...

2009-07-17T16:52:00.000-04:00

It is told of the Vilna Gaon that he was very fond of the Maggid of Dubno and would invite him to visit from time to time.

On one occasion, he told him: "you give mussar everywhere you go; why don’t you give me mussar as well?" The Maggid became instantly ill at ease. How could he rebuke someone as revered as the Gaon? But the Gaon was insistent.

Finally, the Maggid spoke: “Rabbi, you sit at home with the shutters so tightly closed that not even sunlight can enter. Is it any wonder, then, that you are a tzaddik. Perhaps if you wandered around the marketplace all day you wouldn’t be so righteous. "

And the Gaon took his words to heart.

Geshmak

2009-07-17T13:30:00.000-04:00

One Litvak asked one of the early rebbes, "You Chassidim and we misnagdim both learn Torah. We're makpid in halacha and you're makpid in halacha. So, sof kol sof, at the end of the day, what did chassidus really add?" The rebbe answered him that everything he said is true, but that there's one difference; after Chassidus, when one does an aveira, it just isn't as geshmak as it used to be."

Chachmas HaGoyim/Ain Shum Yayush

2009-07-15T13:56:00.004-04:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuoVM9nm42E

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Valvano

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyO8DMvLGwc (NC State 6th seed, Houston #1 in the country)

Ever feel like this?

2009-07-15T01:09:00.003-04:00

Shira Chana Kohl!

2009-07-06T21:42:00.002-04:00

Hodu Lahashem Kitov! Praise Hashem that I am alive and able to serve my Rebbe and my Revolution!

My Tatte looks like a smurf! Watch out it's Gargamel and his evil cat Azriel! Tatte, Were the Smurfs communists?

A new gate in heaven was opened with my birth, and the light was so intense that it engulfed my Tatte's head. Little midwestern boys of the revolution should take note if they ever try and steal my Rebbe action figure with daled minim included. (yes girls of the revolution play with Rebbe action figures too.)

Mazel Tov to the Field Commander!

2009-07-06T12:31:00.002-04:00

Daughters of the Revolution - welcome a new sister to the fold!

2009-06-24T10:57:00.003-04:00

Looking at this picture from a recent Sunday afternoon in DC, I began to lament the loss of innocence. I'm not sure exactly when it happens but I'm sure there must be a study out. Perhaps at Bar Mitzah when our evil urge kicks in , although nowadays it surely happens sooner. Ahh! the hevel shein bo cheit! When did we become twisted, crooked as question marks.
Paul Simon's bookends
Time it was oh what a time it was
It was a time of innocence a time of confidences
long ago it must have been I have a photograph
preserve your memories they're all that's left of you

In the words of enigma who sang about the return to innocence as I was losing mine, Let us all merit to the ultimate return.
Vheshiv Lev avos al banim vlev banim al avosom

What table are you at?

2009-06-23T22:51:00.002-04:00

Jews,

I would like to personally invite the oi-lam to crash the upcoming Reichman-Bronstein affair with me. I think we should have an awkward meeting by the coat room where we can catch up with "stuff" and I can show you pictures of Rebbe's student-einekel

Love,
Apartment 302

2009-06-23T17:07:00.001-04:00

For this reason, and for this reason only, a Jew is a holy being: not because the Jew is more clever, more compassionate, or more successful, but because he has the capacity to negate himself before God. The Baal HaTanya defines a Jew as one who, at a “moment of truth,” will be prepared to sacrifice his life rather than disrupt, even for a moment, his bond with God. A Jew is one in whom union with God and self abnegation to Him are implanted in his soul; should anyone ever attempt to separate him from God, this latent bond will be invoked in all its intensity, to the point of self sacrifice. From this potential for utter self abnegation, implicit even in the most wicked and sinful Jew, the holiness of the Jew derives.

Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, Opening the Tanya, 164

Whiny Jews

2009-06-22T14:36:00.005-04:00

A few weeks ago, this piece of self hating drivel was published in the NJ Jewish Standard. Poppa Ben-Canaan sent a response, published in last week's edition of the paper:

In response to the June 12 opinion piece “Tough love for Israel would pain pro-Israel peace camp,” Dan Fleshler claims to be in the camp that wants Obama to have the political wiggle room to take a fair, even-handed approach to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians so that he won’t have to ‘get tough’ with Israel. Putting aside what Mr. Fleshler and I believe to be the right approach regarding the Jewish communities of Yehuda and Shomron, which by the way would be complete opposites of each other, how can he believe for even a moment that Israel has any choice but to take a hard stance in the face of a Palestinian population that wishes us dead? Their leaders have never abandoned their ultimate aim of destroying us, have never taken steps to build their own state, have never honored their agreements to cease aggression, and have only adopted ever-more offensive positions when Israel has withdrawn from the territories that have been turned over to them. There is no good faith shown by them and there has never been a serious attempt to implement what has been promised to date. These facts are indisputable. Now he and his J Street chevra, in the face of rising global anti-Semitism and relentless pressure on Israel, have chosen to show their “tough love” to the Jews of the State of Israel.

Here is some tough love back to my Jewish brother Dan Fleshler: He needs to get on the right side of the street and stand with the Jews of Israel. He and his friends are seriously misguided and standing with our enemies by doing what they do at this time in our history. Even his use, in his article, of the term “occupying power” in referring to Israel and “defenseless occupied people” in referencing the Palestinians shows how incredibly misled, biased, and naïve he truly is. And while we’re at it, here is ‘an inconvenient truth’ for him to consider — his notion of “bolstering moderation” in the Middle East is a good one that could be seriously enhanced by putting his misguided efforts into trying to figure out how to disarm the Palestinians who continue to attack Israelis relentlessly. We need to show the world the maximum level of achdut (unity) among the Jewish people in the face of our enemies, not his whiny, liberal, progressive apologies for why it hurts him, a Jew, to have to give Israel his “tough love.”

Howard Ben-Canaan*
Teaneck/Modi’in

Name changed to protect the innocent from snag hate mail

Shov...

2009-06-22T09:45:00.000-04:00

Bein Hametzarim Torah, from a brother...

Underground

2009-06-10T09:51:00.002-04:00

Ratzo v'Shov.

Beards have been trimmed. Shirts have been tucked.

The RRRR has gone underground.

But we shall emerge.

Yom Yerushalayim Torah

2009-05-22T09:38:00.003-04:00

From our Brother and Teacher at Jawbonevalley:

COME CLOSE TO THE WALL: In Honor of Yom Yerushalayim by Rav Judah Mischel

June 1967:
Nasser, Egypt's President, declared his intention to lead the Jihad to destroy Israel and push the Jews into the sea. Militarily, the IDF was outnumbered by a ratio of 20:1, proportionally even a larger enemy than we faced in days of the Hasmonean revolt and the battle of Chanuka. The Chevra Kadisha (burial society) in Jerusalem prepared 10,000 body bags for the expected mass civilian casualties, and contingency plans were made for Jerusalem's parks to be turned into cemeteries. Animals in the city's zoo were put to sleep for fear that they might be set free and create chaos in the streets. The Knesset archives and artifacts in the Israel Museum as well as the Dead Sea Scrolls were secured underground, preserved in shelters.

Rabbonim instructed the Tnuva factory to remain open on Shabbos to make sure that they would produce enough milk to feed the population during war time. Thousands volunteered to fill sandbags; talmidim of the Mirrer Yeshiva were instructed by Rav Chaim Shmulevitz to leave the Beis Medrash to assist in the effort. Israel was in a state of emergency, understanding that the dire situation threatened the very existence of the State.

"Yeshuas Hashem k'heref ayin": What took Yehoshua Bin Nun months to accomplish, took only six days; Israel's size tripled, as the IDF miraculously and heroically recaptured Yehudah, Shomron, the Golan, Aza, the holy cities of Chevron, Beit Lechem and Shchem, and reunified Jerusalem.

In the wake of the awesome victory, the Jewish world was euphoric, sensing clear Divine intervention and incredible Yad Hashem.

In Shir Hashirim, Shlomo Hamelech describes how Hakadosh Baruch Hu will deal with our enemies who dare attack us at a time of favor (2:7-8): “You will become as defenseless as gazelles or rams in the field…behold it came suddenly to redeem me as if leaping over mountains, skipping over hills. In His swiftness to redeem me… I thought I would be forever alone , but behold He was standing behind our wall, observing through the windows, peering through the cracks of the latticework.”

Rebbe Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, the Kedushas Levi uses these two descriptions of the way Hashem watches over us to explain the different ways we perceive Hashem's presence in our lives. First, there are times when Hakadosh Baruch Hu observes us "through the windows": moments of clarity where we can "see" Hashem openly, as if on the other side of a glass window.

The awesome victory of the Six Day War 42 years ago was one of those times of clarity. Following the war, Southern front Paratroop Commander Rafael ("Raful") Eitan remarked that, "...Apparently someone in Heaven was watching over us... every unintended action they took and every unintended action we took, always turned to our advantage." There was no mistaking that victory was God-sent, that we were witnessing open miracles.

There are however, other times, where it is more difficult to sense the Ribbono Shel Olam. Nonetheless, explains the Kedushas Levi, it is upon us to remember that Hashem also “watches us through the cracks of the latticework”: we can not "see" beyond the wall, but are assured that Hashem is always there. In those times of hiddenness, when Hashem is "peering through the latticework" we remain under the constant watchful "eye"- we can't "see" Him; but Hakadosh Baruch Hu is always watching us.

It is easy to see someone though a window; one can even gaze from afar. But in order to see a person watching you through a "crack in the latticework", one must come up very close to the wall and look carefully into the crack. Only then, when we peer deeply into that space, can we see that there was someone on the other side of the wall, watching us the entire time...

Yom Yerushalayim is a day of celebration and thanks where we reflect on the miraculous salvation and open Hand of God. We are also able to strengthen our awareness of Hashem's presence in our lives, so that in times when we face difficulties- personally or on a National scale - we will remember and encouraged that we are under the constant Hashgachas Hashem. As the complicated and sometimes painful process of Redemption continues to unfold in stages, we must draw strength from the knowledge that Hashem is always with us, watching over us and directing the course of our lives, even within the confusion and concealment.

The Six Day War is not a distant historical event for us to 'remember' or 'commemorate'; it is a defining moment in each of our personal lives, where a major step toward the ultimate restoration of the heart and soul of our land and Nation took place.

On Yom Yerushalayim, when I stand at the Holy Wall after a long day of celebration, I rest my head in its cracks, and am able to see clearly that Hakadosh Baruch Hu is right there, "peering through the latticework." I feel blessed to have been born into the final generation of exile and the first generation of Redemption, and pray, that with Hashem's ever-present Hashgacha, we will merit the next stage of Mashiach, with the complete rebuilding of Yerushalayim speedily in our days.

Har'eini Na et Ruchaniyuti...

2009-05-11T15:43:00.001-04:00

Finding one’s individual portion in Torah Despite the fact that the Torah speaks to each of us individually, addressing our every experience, every event to befall us, our every metamorphosis of being, not everyone is privileged to understand the Torah on such a personal level. Not everyone merits to recognize the way in which Torah speaks to his individual mind, heart and personality.

A person needs to recognize what belongs to him, which aspects of Torah are relevant to his life, which part he is to implement at any given moment. But not everyone knows this. Some individuals (even great ones) were said to have been told to concern themselves only with a aparticular aspect of the Torah and no other. It is told that following the death of Rabbi Moses Cordovero, Rabbi Joseph Karo went to learn Kabbalah from Rabbi Isaac Luria (the Holy Ari) and kept falling asleep when the Ari was speaking, until the latter told him that this was not his portion in the Torah, that the holy Ari’s kabbalah was not for him. The Ari is also said to have told Rabbi Moses Alshech that he should not involve himself in Kabbalah but in homiletic discourse, as this was his portion in the Torah, and Rabbi Alshech indeed wrote his book Torat Moshe in this genre of Torah learning.

Some explain the prayer, “grant us our portion in Torah,” as a request not only to be granted a portion in Torah but also to be granted the knowledge of which portion is ours. Every Jew can and must study Torah, but if he concerns himself with aspects of Torah that are not truly his, then, although he has certainly fulfilled the commandment to study Torah, he fails to realize the ultimate potential of his soul in regard to Torah study.

Rav Steinsaltz, Opening the Tanya, 28

Racing for Rebbe

2009-05-11T13:44:00.003-04:00

Laag BeOmer Celebration

2009-05-11T11:30:00.002-04:00

Join Rebbe on the Banks of the Deleware where he will lead us to simcha, ahavas yisroel, and achdus.

Rebbe Simchah!

2009-05-11T09:29:00.002-04:00

Rebbe invites everyone to celebrate the engagement of his daughter Batya to Yosef Bronstein.

This Thursday night, 6 - 10pm at the Rubin Shul.

Mazel Tov!

Pesach Sheni Chizuk

2009-05-08T16:20:00.003-04:00

Pesach Sheni is for people who are tamei or far away from the Beis Hamikdash, so that they get a second chance. But what about a person who spends all afternoon, and leaves without a kosher korban, because everyone has come out treif... it is to that heartbroken jew, who the Kohen whispers in his ear, brother, I'll see you next month.
A person believes that if "I've been trying to serve Hashem, but it doesn't work, that Hashem doesn't want me," to a Jew like this Pesach Sheni tells them that Hashem does want you, He just wants you next month, and want you to learn that living through that feeling is also serving Him.

2009-05-08T11:33:00.001-04:00

“The time to eat is in one’s youth; the time to sleep is in the grave; for sadness and depression there is not time at all. You may call it depression, but I call it escape from obligation and a rejection of the yoke of heaven."

The Kotzker

2009-05-07T15:58:00.003-04:00

The Light of Iyyar

2009-05-06T15:51:00.003-04:00

"The trouble with all rational demonstrations of the existence of God, with which the history of philosophy abounds, consists in their being exactly what they were meant to be by those who formulated them: abstract logical demonstrations divorced from the living primal experiences in which these demonstrations are rooted…

Does the loving bride in the embrace of her beloved ask for proof that he is alive and real? Must the prayerful soul clinging in passionate love and ecstasy to her Beloved demonstrate that He exists?"

Rav Soloveitchik, Lonely Man of Faith

Mad Russian, Where art thou?

2009-04-29T13:59:00.002-04:00

Has anyone heard from or seen Abe?

Does anyone think he looks a bit like Ricky Hatton?

Does anyone want to watch the fight with me this Motsaei Shabbos?

Orthopraxy, Yom Tov Sheni Style

2009-04-28T16:41:00.007-04:00

While spending the last days of Pesach at a hotel by the Dead Sea, I had a very interesting experience:

The hotel was packed, mostly with Israeli Jews. Consequently, the number of people keeping the second day of Yom Tov was quite small, considering many American Jews at the hotel were only keeping one day.

On leil Shmini shel Pesach, the diaspora Jews keeping the 8th day gathered with the hotel manager to discuss what time shacharis would be the following day. A number of heimishe Jews - full of righteous frumkeit, hats and the whole shibang - expressed a very strong desire to daven at a later hour - no earlier than 8:30! - but also wanted to be able to make it to the hotel's breakfast after davening, for kiddush.

The problem was, breakfast at the hotel was scheduled to officially end at 10am (since, for most guests, it was a regular weekday). When the manager told these guests that they would have to daven early if they wanted to make it to breakfast (or eat before davening), things got ugly. Some of the heimishe guests threatened to never return to the hotel. Others expressed horror at the thought of eating before davening. The hotel manager's conciliatory offer of a table of cake and coffee was summarily rejected. These Jews demanded a serious, kosher l'pesach hotel breakfast - nothing less!

In the end, we davened at 8:15am, and finished all of yom tov davening in under an hour and a half (!!!), so these yidden had no problem making it to breakfast. Baruch Hashem, everyone got their hot, chocolate covered macaroons.

And then something funny happened. At about 11am that morning, I saw this very same crew of Jews heading straight for the coed pool, in bathing suits.

Banana Republic, take 2

2009-04-06T12:41:00.005-04:00

It seems Gilad Erdan, Israel's Environmental Protection Minister, has been reading the RRRR blog. I met this Jew when he came to Teaneck for Shabbos last winter - he certainly seemed to have his heart in the right place.

"Israel does not take orders from [US President Barack] Obama," Environmental Protection Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) said on Monday, responding to an earlier statement by the US president in which he reaffirmed his administration's commitment to all previous understandings between Israel and the Palestinians, including the process launched at Annapolis in 2007.

Erdan, who is also in charge of coordinating between the Knesset and the cabinet, also praised Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who only last week said that Israel was not bound by the Annapolis talks.

"Let me be clear," Obama had said, "the United States strongly supports the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. That is a goal shared by Palestinians, Israelis, and people of good will around the world. That is a goal that the parties agreed to in the road map and at Annapolis. And that is a goal that I will actively pursue as president."

"In voting for [Prime Minister Binyamin] Netanyahu the citizens of Israel have decided that they will not become the US's fifty first state," said Erdan, who was representing the coalition in a Knesset deliberation of Lieberman's controversial statements. He added, however, that "Obama is a friend of Israel and the United States is an important ally and everything between us will be the result of communication."

The Struggle of Our Generation

2009-04-01T10:00:00.003-04:00

“…[A]lmost anyone who is seriously involved in any church will recognize that churchgoing is not synonymous with personal spirituality… Having participated throughout my life in organized church and community service groups, I have found that attending church does not necessarily mean living the principles taught in those meetings. You can be active in church but inactive in its gospel.

In the church-centered life, image or appearance can become a person’s dominant consideration, leading to hypocrisy that undermines personal security and intrinsic worth.

Nor can the church give a person a constant sense of guidance. Church-centered people often tend to live in compartments, acting and thinking and feeling in certain ways on the Sabbath and in totally different ways on weekdays…"

From Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

Montefiore Windmill

2009-03-30T14:24:00.003-04:00

From the Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore:

The Montefiore's pilgrimage trip to Eretz Israel, 1827:

[When they arrived in Jerusalem, Mr. and Mrs. Montefiore] repaired to the home of Mr. Joseph Amzalak [a Portuguese Jew], while the [non-Jewish] men who accompanied them took up their quarters in the Greek convent.

The Montefiores subsequently went to see the Western Wall. During their absence, the Governor sent to say that he expected Mr. Montefiore to come and take coffee, and that he regretted that Mr. Montefiore should have gone to [stay with] the Jews: if he did not like going to the convent, he would have given him a house in the city.

Mr. Montefiore, on hearing the message, said "I hope I shall ever live and die in the society of my brethren of Israel!"

Heartland Proud!

2009-03-25T09:20:00.004-04:00

While other members of the RRRR have been making the news recently, this one takes the cake.

Here's to the Minister of Agriculture - spiritual healer!

Roadtrip to Omaha, anyone?

Ayeh

2009-03-24T12:16:00.002-04:00

I've always wondered what we mean when we say the words "Ayeh Makom Kevodo" - "Where is the place of His glory?" in Kedusha on Shabbos.

According to Rebbe Nachman, "Kevodo Malei Olam" and "Ayeh makom kevodo" are two ways of perceiving God's presence:

"Ayeh makom kevodo - Where is the place of His Glory?" indicates God’s utter transcendence; "M’lo kol ha’aretz kevodo - The entire earth is full of His Glory," indicates God’s immanence.

This is certainly true. But I thought of another possibility as well. R David Fohrman explains the difference between "Eiphoh" and "Ayeh". Both words mean "where". But as we know, the Torah would not have two words with same exact meaning; what is the subtle difference between the two words?

"Eiphoh" is used when you want to know, literally, where something is. "Eiphoh haSherutim?" - where is the bathroom?

But "Ayeh" is not about where something is, literally. Its used for rhetorical purposes - when the questioner is posing a challenge. For example, when a father asks his 4 year old son, who has cookie crumbs all over his mouth - "Where did the cookies go!?" - the father know exactly where the cookies are. He is challenging his child; the cookies should still be here!

When God asked Kayin, after he had murdered Hevel, "אֵי הֶבֶל אָחִיךָ" - where is Hevel your brother? - God is challenging Kayin. God knows exactly where Hevel is! God is challenging Kayin; why is Hevel not here!

This is how we can understand "Ayeh Makom Kevodo." We know where God is - God is everywhere, and He is also beyond, just as Rebbe Nachman said. But the angels are asking, and we are asking along with them - where are you, God? Why are you not here yet, in all of your glory?! We need you! Reveal yourself in all your glory!

Purim in Brooklyn: Our weapons are ready

2009-03-19T15:52:00.007-04:00

A Hazy Picture?

2009-03-18T13:22:00.012-04:00

The Piacetzner Rebbe, in his Hachsharas Avreichim, quotes Rav Avraham Azulai (grandfather of the Chida) as saying:

When one is learning the Torah of his Rebbe, he should picture, in his mind, the face of his Rebbe, and in that way attach himself to his Rebbe's soul. This is what Rabbi Abba would do when trying to decipher the teachings of his master, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai; envisioning his Rebbe's face enabled him to better understand his Rebbe's teachings.

We of the RRRR, scattered as we are over the 4 corners of the world, can go weeks and months without seeing Rebbe face to face. Rebbe has given us some eitzah on this matter, but the long separations can nevertheless be disheartening. And not only disheartening - time away from Rebbe always seems to lead to some level of unclarity, be it in learning or otherwise.

So how about this: when times get tough, when Rebbe's life teachings all of a sudden no longer seem to make sense, don't just stare at a picture of Rebbe for inspiration (though this is certainly a level). Because in the end, that picture is simply one Jew's portrayal of Rebbe at one particular moment in time, from his perspective. Instead, recreate a vivid mental image of Rebbe in your own mind. You can picture Rebbe saying over a shem mishmuel while peeling a banana, or you can imagine once again that you are on the beaches of Nahariya with Rebbe, battling the waves of fury. And through this holy exercise, you can reconnect to Rebbe's soul, and to the clarity that comes with such connection.

The hazy pictures of the mind may not be so hazy after all.

March Madness

2009-03-16T23:34:00.001-04:00

Check out Shashgaz, aka Zakein Mamrei, aka me, on the news. Yes, the news.

Pesach Preparation

2009-03-16T15:32:00.002-04:00

Click to hear this clip from the Rebbe Reichman Ruach Revival Band featuring Chaim Dovid. Be sure to congratulate Shashgaz on his congo solo.

Minyan Man

2009-03-16T14:30:00.004-04:00

Nine men are waiting to pray. They may be the greatest tzaddikim. But being nine they are still short of the required minyan for prayer. They are forbidden to utter a single word of the communal prayers.

All of a sudden some totally insignificant man comes in from the streets. Whoever he may be, he is joined to them. They are ten. Now they can recite the Kedusha.

No sooner than they are finished, this same individual makes his escape and goes back to the streets. But the words of holiness which were uttered before can now never be erased.
(Reb Nosson of Breslov)

Official Hippo of the Revolution?

2009-03-13T11:11:00.004-04:00

This baby hippo needs a home fast - or the Nazi enabling Swiss will euthanize it. See here for details.

From my perspective as Defense Minister, I see tremendous possibilities. Imagine storming the beis medrish on the back of a 6,000 pound hippo! The possibilities are endless...

Purim in Merryland

2009-03-13T00:59:00.004-04:00

Preperations for Next Purim Begin

2009-03-12T17:02:00.004-04:00

Only 354 days until next Purim...may we be zoche to the shefah of lemon, honey, and hot water flow through klal yisrael (and our collective throats).

Gut Moed (I didn't hear no bell)....

Purim Teaching (2)

2009-03-12T14:50:00.003-04:00

The first time we called Rebbe on Purim, Rebbe understood that we were not yet ready to speak with him. Rebbe handed the phone to one of the junior talmidim, who mumbled something about the cardinals and Achashveirosh. We hung up the phone.

A few hours later, we were ready, at least on some level, to hear Rebbe's teaching.

Rebbe explained the well known line in Tehillim:

אֶשָּׂא עֵינַי אֶל-הֶהָרִים מֵאַיִן יָבֹא עֶזְרִי

I will lift up my eyes to the mountains. From where does my help come?

Rebbe explained that we should read the pasuk differently than as translated above. "מֵאַיִן" does not mean "From where." Rather, "מֵאַיִן" means that specifically when one is in a place of "אַיִן", when he is in a very low place, to the point where he feels that he is nothing - that is when he will see "יָבֹא עֶזְרִי."

Ashreinu.

Shashgaz Shomer haNashim

2009-03-11T18:34:00.003-04:00

2009-03-11T14:52:00.000-04:00

ABC / RRRR Seudah Recap

2009-03-11T13:54:00.000-04:00

Purim Teaching (I)

2009-03-11T11:13:00.004-04:00

While the women of the revolution cleaned up, as the in-laws of the revolution lay prostrate on the bathroom floor, and as R Michael Shapiro's Yedid Nefesh played softly in the living room, the Rochester Jew arrived. Over a plate of beans, hamburger and onion rings, he told the following story:

As a resident in a nearby hospital, the Rochester Jew spends many hours with patients of various nationalities. Recently, he checked in on a Cuban patient who was suffering from a great illness.

The Cuban asked the Rochester Jew - "what nationality are you? What are you?" The Rochester Jew replied, "I am a Jew."

"Thats good," said the Cuban. "Jews have Beitzim.*"

*translation deemed necessary for the youthful members of the RRRR

Good Purim Story

2009-03-10T12:25:00.002-04:00

Please Read at your Seudas, with focus and intensity. And hopefully some musical accompaniment and yayin. Good Purim to all!!!
_____________________________

"Good Purim, Rebbe," the meek voice said. But it was lost between the flint-grey beard and the moth-eaten scarf.

The Koznitzer Maggid, the great Chassidic leader, looked up from his Purim celebration.

"Was that a breeze I felt?" he said. "Did someone open a window?"

"Good Purim, Rebbe," the man said again, scarcely a decibel louder. The Maggid looked around. Standing there in a tattered, oversized coat, a battered black hat, with two pitiful eyes staring out from beneath, stood Pinchas the Shlepper, the Maggid's most destitute Chassid. He was the town porter and local doormat. People could wipe their feet on him and not even notice.

"Good Purim, Pinchas!" the Maggid cried. "Well, did you bring me m'shalach monot, - a Purim package?" Pinchas looked down at his cracking shoes. He did not have food to feed his own family. How could he bring the Maggid a gift?

"Pinchas!" the Rebbe shouted. "How long will you remain a shlepper? It's Purim today. V'nahaphachu! Everything turns over! Go and stand at the head of the table." Pinchas moved over obediently. "Now, in your loudest voice," the Maggid said, "wish me a good Purim."

"Good Purim," he repeated. Some mice in the corner squeaked in response.

"Not like that. Louder, Pinchas!"

"Good Purim!"

"Louder, Pinchas!" The Rebbe's Chassidim sitting around the Purim table joined in with words of encouragement.

"GOOD PURIM! GOOD PURIM!" After about a half-hour of trying, Pinchas let out a string of really inspired "Good Purims." The Rebbe's eyes lit up.

"Now, Pinchas. Go out and bring me m'shalach monot. And I want you to wish "Good Purim" to every person you meet."

Pinchas strode down the town's main street. "Good Purim," he called to everyone he met. "GOOD PURIM!" The townspeople were dumbstruck. "Was that Pinchas the Shlepper?" they asked.

Pinchas marched into the shop of the local wine merchant. "Good Purim, Reb Shmuel!" he said. "Give me three bottles of your best wine and I will pay you tomorrow, and if not, well it's Purim today!" Reb Shmuel was shocked, but he seized the opportunity to perform a mitzvah and ran to the wine shelf, as his bewildered wife looked on.

From there, Pinchas went to the bakery. "Good Purim, Reb Meir! Give me five cakes and five loaves of bread and I will pay you tomorrow, and if not, well, it's Purim today!" Again, he was met with the same enthusiastic response. Pinchas quickly ran back to the Maggid's home to present him with his m'shalach monos -- cake and wine. "Good Purim, Rebbe!" he cried, as he ran back out again for his family. The butcher, the tailor, the cobbler -- Pinchas wished each one of them a special Good Purim.

Several hours later, in their little shack at the edge of town, Pinchas the Shlepper's family heard several sharp kicks at the front door, which then burst open. Framed in the doorway was a man completely obscured by an armload of packages, except for his shiny new shoes, neatly pressed trousers and the top of a new felt hat -- their father!

"GOOD PURIM, CHILDREN!" he shouted. His wife stared at him as if in a dream. Pinchas went over to her. "My dear, I have been a terrible husband and have made you and the children suffer for years. I promise that from now on things will be different. But first, set the table, it's Purim today!" The table was quickly set -- a meal fit for a king. "But children, before we begin…" Pinchas lined them up in front of the table. "Wish your father a Good Purim."

"Good Purim, Tatte."

"No, not like that. Louder!"

"Good Purim, Tatte!"

"No, louder!"

Across the town, the Koznitzer Maggid leaned back in his chair, closed his eyes and smiled. "Sha, Sha!" the Chassidim all cried. "The Rebbe sees something. What is it Rebbe? Tell us."

"Right now," he replied, "Pinchas the Shlepper is teaching his whole family to say Good Purim, and all the angels in Heaven are listening with joy."

From that Purim on, Pinchas's life changed. His new found confidence inspired others, who lent him money and started him in business. After many years, he became quite wealthy, and his home became a refuge for all the troubled and needy people in the area. His life was spent helping others and all who knocked on his door found endless encouragement in his hearty and heartfelt welcome.

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's Rebbe-Man

2009-03-10T09:06:00.000-04:00

2009-03-09T13:50:00.003-04:00

If I am I because I am I, and you are you because you are you, then I am I and you are you. But if I am I because you are you, and you are you because I am I, then I am not I, and you are not you. (Rav Simcha Bunim)

Tear off the masks!

Shushan Purim with Rebbe

2009-03-09T01:18:00.002-04:00

Somewhere in the recesses of Zakein Mamrei's video archive, forever etched into the hearts of the revolution faithful is a video of Rebbe's Shushan Purim Seudah in the bookstore building. There has perhaps never been a starker contrast on the streets of amsterdam ave. (unless of course you count the time I danced with Rav Willig dressed as a crack baby surrounded by a sea of MYP guys). There we were all in one place a small band of displaced souls at YU crammed into a stuffy fourth floor apt. in the bookstore building. While many scurried to classes below and scarfed down two slices and a drink before shiur, we thought of how the jews in shushan continued their fight after battles everywhere else had died down and as our brethren in walled cities around the world sat down to their purim feast, we too sat down to erect a wall of our own. You see sometimes a wall is needed to protect you from negative energy, as betzalel correctly told moshe first the mishkan then the aron and keilim. You know the saddest thing in the world is when you know in your heart that you must build an impenetrable wall, and that you must conceal yourself with your comrades lest you succumb to the beast that is lurking. There we sat awaiting our leader trumpets blared, shofars were blasted, and there were certainly a few who found themselves staring wide eyed as we sang pesach tunes. And as the afternoon turned to evening and our Rebbe bid us farewell leaving us to wound and maim each other in our drunkenness, we understood our mission with great clarity. We were tasked with growing trees without boxes to confine them. To sit on benches and bring life to wisdom.

Fair Lawn RRRR Purim Seudah

2009-03-06T12:44:00.005-05:00

All Jews are welcome at the RRRR Court of Kings Purim Seudah in Fair Lawn (48 Kingsland Court, Fair Lawn, NJ ).

Entrance fee: 100 Amalekite Foreskins and an aversion to spiritual coldness.

BYOW - Bring your own weapon for the battle (times are tight, and the Defense Ministry no longer has spare weaponry lying around).

2009-03-05T13:22:00.001-05:00

Queen Esther, Revolutionary

2009-03-05T12:49:00.003-05:00

The Gemara tells us that the essence of Esther is “וְאָנֹכִי, הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר פָּנַי” – that G-d will hide His face from us.

But Esther also means something else. We say in Tehillim 27 (L’Dovid Hashem Ori) an amazing line: “ אַל-תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי” – G-d, do not hide your face from me! I will not accept your hiddenness! We may live in a world of darkness, but I will not be at peace with it!

And this is also the essence of Esther’s name – אֶסְתֵּר = אֶ + סְתֵּר. Esther = אַל-תַּסְתֵּר– do not hide from me!

Esther’s challenge is to experience hester panim, G-d’s hiddenness – “וְאָנֹכִי, הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר פָּנַי” - but then to revolt against it! “ אַל-תַּסְתֵּר פָּנֶיךָ מִמֶּנִּי” - Father in heaven, do not hide; show me your face! Save your people!

Who is a Jew?

2009-03-03T09:27:00.003-05:00

In "The Rav Speaks", Rav Soloveitchik explains:

"Heroism means to fight even when the chances of victory are slim, when reason advises capitulation because logically the battle seems lost. Heroism implies doing the paradoxical, the absurd...

If you ask me, who is a Jew, I would answer, one who lives a life of heroism. In my eyes, a Jew is one who is ready to live heroically, to be always in the minority, to be able to fight against himself and his own cold logic."

While we are taking back the shuls and schools, lets take back the Rav from those who claim he was a cold intellectual!

Daughters of the Revolution

2009-03-02T15:24:00.002-05:00

In the final days before the Messiah arrives, righteous women will outnumber the men...

Asher Korcha BaDerech - A United Front in Battling Coldness

2009-02-27T10:01:00.010-05:00

Rebbe, the RRRR and Naaleh. R Weinberger, the southern Chassid and the Sfas Emes Jew. Jawbonevalley and the Stollel . Reb Shlomo minyanim everywhere. The Village crazies and the March on Maryland.

What once was a scattered group of lonely Yechidim, groping for something warm in a world full of freezing Young Israel synagogues, is now a full scale, grass roots rebellion. We are powerful, far more powerful than we realize.

In the synagogues, schools and basement minyanim,
I saw Yidden who dreamed.
In the battlefields of passion and of fire
I saw the Snags get creamed.

Rise up from the weeds! Hiding is no longer necessary! Let us retake what is rightfully ours!

Gather Your Weapons...

2009-02-27T09:41:00.002-05:00

The .40 caliber Aborigine blowgun comes fully loaded with one push through quiver, 4-black widow quivers, 3-dart guards, 1-stun dart quiver, 2-grips a mouth piece, muzzleguard, 16 wire darts, 10-spear head darts, 10-plastic broadhead darts, 8-stun darts, sling, instruction sheet and a paper target face. Features an aircraft aluminum barrel that carries a lifetime warranty.

And only $17!!!!!

http://www.outdoorhuntingsupply.com/aborigine-blow-ohs-5433.html

Zakein Mamrei - King of All Media?

2009-02-25T10:52:00.002-05:00

More great revolutionary moments from Akiva Ben Canaan's wedding. Zakein Mamrei's wife is responsible for the footage.

The Worlds Collide, Rockin.

2009-02-24T23:26:00.001-05:00

Lost Footage of Rebbe and Chaim Dovid singing Michael Shapiro at Akiva Ben Canaan's wedding.

Take that all you playa hatahs.

Saying it like it is

2009-02-24T14:49:00.005-05:00

At last year's RRRR Seudah, one of the Friends of the Revolution, Jake, had a little email conversation with one of his gentile friends. It went like this:

Jake: Today is purim...we drink today to celebrate the fact that when your people tried to wipe out my people we wooooooon! Let's go next week and see if if the forces of good can defeat the forces of evil.

jake

Response from Gentile Friend: whats a little genocide amongst friends?!?!

Gentile Friend

Eight Living Sifrei Torah - the First Yahrtzeit

2009-02-24T11:19:00.003-05:00

http://www.blevechad.com/view

Waken in our hearts holy song
and remove the tears that do not belong
in the eyes of the children that long for You,
whose every life’s breath is a cry for Your love.

Rebbe Trivia Game (it's more then just a game)

2009-02-23T23:54:00.002-05:00

Who was Rebbe calling a jerk when he called into Abc's purim seudah last purim?

Election Results

2009-02-23T16:38:00.004-05:00

As some may have noticed, shady elections were held last week for Prime Minister (aka "the ceremonial figurehead") of the RRRR.

No candidate received a majority of votes, with Yogourt finishing just one vote ahead of Anarchy. Which leaves distant third place finisher Machinegunfodder as the kingmaker.

Which begs the question:

Will Machinegunfodder throw his vote to Yogourt, or cast his lot with complete and utter anarchy?

We await your decision, field commander.